Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Daydream Believer

That’s the question authors are asked most often. And it’s the hardest to answer. Usually, we don’t have a clue. Ideas just arrive, unannounced and unexpected.

But I’m convinced that daydreamers have an edge up. We were the kids gazing out the window while school was in session, lost someplace inside our heads, having conversations with imaginary characters. Our grades weren’t all that good.

Living in “the now” is pretty much impossible for daydreamers. We hang out in alternate worlds, made up of characters we imagine into being. The same sort of world many of our readers love to escape to, only we get to make them up.

Lately, I’ve been exploring the concept of a brainstorming team. It would be great fun to gather with other mystery authors and throw around ideas, kill off a few bad guys in creative way, work through a few tough scenes together. Although it’s difficult here in Wisconsin where there aren’t so many of us.

Those plans are in the early stages. I'm working on a glimmer of an outline. For now, I have my daydreams, and oh the places they take me.

Oh, I could hide 'neath the wings
Of the bluebird as she sings.
The six o'clock alarm would never ring. ~ The Monkeys